Virtual receptionist in Coeur d'Alene, ID: cost vs in-house
Virtual receptionists earn more in Coeur d'Alene than anywhere else in Idaho. Expect a median of $37,780 a year1, 2.6% above the Idaho statewide median of $36,810 and about level with the US median of $38,010. Nationally it ranks #151 of 521 areas. About 580 virtual receptionists work here, 11% of the Idaho total.
BLS occupation 43-4171, area Coeur d'Alene, ID. Data from the May 2025 release, checked 2026-10-15.
Pay in Coeur d'Alene against Idaho and the US
| Range | 10th | Median | 90th | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | $29,640 | $37,780 | $48,070 | |
| Idaho | $28,500 | $36,810 | $47,100 | |
| United States | $28,760 | $38,010 | $49,950 |
The middle half of virtual receptionists in Coeur d'Alene earns $36,050–$43,480. The top tenth earns $48,070 or more, 1.6 times the bottom tenth, close to the US pattern of 1.7 times. From the 25th to the 75th percentile, the local range is only $7,430 wide, against $10,310 across Idaho and $11,170 nationally: employers in Coeur d'Alene pay within a narrower band.
What to budget for a virtual receptionist here
| Point in the local range | Per year | Per month | Per hour | Employer cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $29,640 | $2,470 | $14.25 | $38,245 |
| 25th percentile | $36,050 | $3,004 | $17.33 | $46,516 |
| Median | $37,780 | $3,148 | $18.16 | $48,748 |
| 75th percentile | $43,480 | $3,623 | $20.90 | $56,103 |
| 90th percentile | $48,070 | $4,006 | $23.11 | $62,026 |
Pay climbs faster above the median than below it here: the 75th percentile is $5,700 over the median, the 25th only $1,730 under it. An offer at the 75th percentile adds about $7,355 a year in employer cost. These percentiles describe what people in the job earn locally, not experience levels, so place your offer by the tasks and seniority you need.
For scale, the US median of $38,010 falls between the median and the 75th percentile in Coeur d'Alene, and the Idaho statewide median of $36,810 falls between the 25th percentile and the median.
What a hire really costs in Coeur d'Alene
At the $37,780 median, a local hire costs about $48,748 a year: benefits and payroll taxes other than paid leave are 22.5% of total compensation in US private industry2, about $10,968 here. Recruiting, equipment and office space come on top. Benefit levels vary by employer, so treat this as an estimate.
We place executive assistants, customer support and e-commerce staff today; for virtual receptionists we answer within one business day whether we can help. Enter the monthly pay you have in mind to compare it with a local hire. The fee field shows our standard fee3; Deel's contractor plan is the default payroll tool4.
Other roles in Coeur d'Alene
Virtual receptionists have the lowest median of the 15 roles we track in Coeur d'Alene; project coordinators have the highest, at $86,950.
| Role | Median | vs virtual receptionist | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical Administrative Assistant | +26.4% | 500 | |
| Administrative Assistant | +23.3% | 610 | |
| Data Entry Specialist | +18.3% | 30 | |
| Customer Support Specialist | +15.8% | 1,380 | |
| Virtual Receptionist | this role | 580 |
Measured against the US median, virtual receptionists rank #4 of the 15 roles we track in Coeur d'Alene (-0.6%), between medical administrative assistants (+4.0%) and bookkeepers (-0.7%). The typical role here is at -11.5%, so, measured against the US, virtual receptionists cost more in Coeur d'Alene than the area's general pay level would suggest. Virtual receptionists hold 8.6% of the jobs in these 15 roles in Coeur d'Alene, 6.4% across Idaho and 5.8% nationally. The job is a bigger part of the local workforce in these roles than it is nationally.
Other areas in Idaho
Across the 8 areas of Idaho with data for this job, the median runs from $34,800 in Idaho Falls to $37,780 in Coeur d'Alene, a gap of $2,980 a year. All 2 areas in Idaho with more virtual receptionists than Coeur d'Alene pay less, among them Boise City, ID ($37,500) and Idaho Falls, ID ($34,800).
| Area | Median | vs Coeur d'Alene | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | this area | 580 | |
| Boise City, ID | -0.7% | 2,280 | |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | -1.0% | 200 | |
| Northwestern Idaho (Nonmetro) | -2.8% | 360 | |
| Southeast-Central Idaho (Nonmetro) | -3.9% | 490 | |
| Twin Falls, ID | -4.0% | 360 | |
| Pocatello, ID | -7.7% | 280 |
Coeur d'Alene against other US metro areas
By number of jobs, Coeur d'Alene is #282 of 521 US areas for this job. Both its size and its pay sit in the middle half of US areas. Outside Idaho, Salt Lake City-Murray and Billings pay just above Coeur d'Alene and Prescott Valley-Prescott and Casper just below. All four are within $30 a year of the median in Coeur d'Alene. Of the three markets with about as many virtual receptionists, none pays as much.
| Metro area | Median | vs Coeur d'Alene | Jobs | Close in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billings, MT | +0.1% | 250 | pay | |
| Salt Lake City-Murray, UT | +0.1% | 4,660 | pay | |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | this area | 580 | ||
| Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ | -0.0% | 770 | pay | |
| Casper, WY | -0.1% | 280 | pay | |
| Midland, TX | -1.3% | 590 | jobs | |
| Gainesville, GA | -2.3% | 590 | jobs | |
| Houma-Bayou Cane, LA | -17.8% | 590 | jobs |
Questions
How much does it cost to hire a virtual receptionist in Coeur d'Alene, ID?
About $48,748 a year at the median, or $4,062 a month: $37,780 in pay plus about $10,968 in benefits and payroll taxes. Recruiting, equipment and office space are extra.
What do virtual receptionists earn in Coeur d'Alene?
The median was $37,780 a year in the May 2025 BLS survey. The 10th percentile was $29,640, the 90th $48,070, and the middle half earned $36,050 to $43,480.
Is Coeur d'Alene the most expensive area in Idaho for virtual receptionists?
Yes. Its median of $37,780 is the highest of 8 areas in Idaho. Boise City comes next at $37,500.
How many virtual receptionists work in Coeur d'Alene?
BLS counts about 580 in the May 2025 survey. That is 11% of the Idaho total of 5,340. Only Boise City and Idaho Falls have more in Idaho.
Does a virtual receptionist cost more than a customer support specialist in Coeur d'Alene?
No: $5,970 a year less at the median. The medians are $37,780 and $43,750.
Sources
4 sources, with links
- BLS OEWS May 2025, 43-4171: bls.gov
- BLS Employer Costs for Employee Compensation, private industry, June 2026: bls.gov
- Stafka pricing: stafka.com
- Deel pricing, contractor management: deel.com
How these pages are built: methodology and data sources. Last updated 2026-11-12.